Titus 1:7, commentary and pictures

Paul left Titus in Crete to put in order what was lacking by appointing elders in every city, and this verse gives the standard for that work. A bishop here means a church elder placed in charge of the flock, who as God's steward is entrusted with God's work and must be blameless in character with high standards of piety and justice. He must not be self-willed, quick-tempered, given to wine, violent, or greedy for money and dishonest gain, but is to be hospitable, loving of what is good, sober, just, holy, temperate, faithful in marriage and home, and holding fast the faithful word to exhort and refute opposers. Not self-willed means free from a strong, untamable, self-sufficient spirit that exalts self and cannot endure control, correction or contradiction, for even one such ruling influence destroys the peace, unity and prosperity of the church. Therefore leaders must be chosen only after careful consideration and much prayer, without haste, with fitness tested by wise governing and training of his own children, and with examination of his Christian history, knowledge of Scripture and real experience with God.

Blameless Stewards in Crete

Paul was left with Titus in Crete to set in order what was lacking by ordaining elders in every city, and this verse gives the standard for that work. A bishop means a church elder, one of those placed in charge of the flock and churches of God. Those chosen are to be men of experience who have a knowledge of the truth and are sound in the faith, and this standard calls for a decided work to be done in the churches.

As God's steward the leader is entrusted with God's work and must be blameless, with character fit for that sacred stewardship. This is a high standard of piety and justice for those appointed to lead and oversee the church, defining what God's ministers are to be and their fitness for responsible sacred service. His Christian history, experience, knowledge of Scripture and present truth, and real living experience with God show whether his character has developed to be examined for such service. His conduct and ability to manage his household are evidence of fitness, since defects at home will carry into church leadership.

The verse forbids being self-willed, soon angry or quick-tempered, given to wine, violent or a striker, and given to filthy lucre or greedy for money and dishonest gain. Not self-willed means free from a strong, untamable, self-sufficient and unyielding spirit that exalts self and cannot endure control, correction or contradiction. Such a ruling influence carried into rule in family, neighborhood and church proves a man unfit for the place, for even one such element countenanced destroys the peace, unity and prosperity of the church. Relatives and sympathizers connected with it increase the danger.

Joined to the surrounding requirements, the steward is to be hospitable, loving of good men and what is good, sober, just, holy and temperate. He is to be the husband of one wife with faithful obedient children not charged with wild or unruly living. He is to hold fast the taught faithful word so he can exhort by sound doctrine and convince or refute opposers and gainsayers. The word of eternal life preached in purity in this way makes many sound in the faith. The standard is set against many unruly vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision, who subvert whole houses by teaching what they ought not for shameful gain and whose mouths must be stopped. Two classes thus stand in contrast: those who present the truth in its purity as contained in God's Word, and unconsecrated talkers who bring in a spurious religion to counterwork the required work.

Selecting and Correcting Leaders

Leaders are to be chosen only after careful consideration and much prayer for God by His Spirit to show whom He will accept, and they are not to be hurried into office. They are not to be ordained hastily, but time must be given for character to develop and to be examined under prayer for God's direction. The requirement that the bishop as God's steward be blameless, not self-willed, not soon angry, and free from the other unfit traits is the reason for this caution in placing men in charge.

Fitness for the place is tested by the home life, for wisdom in governing, educating, and training his own children shows wisdom to manage the larger church outside and to bear its responsibilities. The influence a man has shown at home will be the influence he exerts in the church, so defects in the household will be carried into church leadership. Neglect of his children is neglect of a sacred trust, setting a defective example before church members, showing lack of wise discrimination in leadership, and forfeiting God's blessing.

Before anyone is accepted as a laborer, those responsible must examine his Christian history and experience, his knowledge of Scripture and of present truth, and whether he has a real, living experience with God, showing fitness for sacred service as one entrusted to teach God's Word. In granting ministerial license still more regard must be given to the requirements set forth in Titus 1:7-9 for candidates for the ministry. The verse gives the divine credentials of every minister called by the Holy Spirit to minister in word and doctrine as a minister of Christ and steward of the mysteries of God, whose high commission comes from God and which no man or body of men can confer, shown in character that is not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, and not given to filthy lucre.

Ministry is not preaching only but ministering to preserve order and unity in the church, since there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers whose mouths must be stopped. The faithful steward, blameless and holding fast the faithful word as taught so as to be able by sound doctrine to exhort and to convince gainsayers, must do patient personal labor with members who by spirit, words, and influence counterwork the work, acting as busybodies speaking evil and sowing doubt, evil-surmising, infidelity, irritation, and disaffection. If after the steps required by Christ and after patient labor they will not hear, change course, and reform, they must be separated or suspended from fellowship, along with sympathizers who choose the wrong side and cannot discern right from wrong, so the church is set in order, kept from defilement, and God's name is not dishonored.

The steward language also applies to those entrusted with God's means, who must use them faithfully to support the work, including the neglected Southern field, rather than leave them bound up in one place such as Battle Creek. It applies as well to managers and helpers, who need wisdom and light to serve faithfully and to share their knowledge in their work.